
Father Lenihan grabs The Bandito right on the post at Awapuni. PHOTO: Race Images.
Winter Cup long term goal for improving Father Lenihan
Gutsy Awapuni winner Father Lenihan will have only one more run this campaign before being set for the Winter Cup at Riccarton in August.
The little prizefighter once again stepped up to the mark last Saturday when he got up in the last stride for Robbie Hannam to nose out The Bandito after never looking likely to catch him down the home straight.
“He’s so laid back, he only does what he has to,’’ says Latta.” And that’s why it’s hard to get a line on him in training.’’
The win was Father Lenihan’s second this spring and summer and with a second, a third, two fourths and a fifth in his six other runs, he has bankrolled a tidy $44,125 this time in.
But Latta is reluctant to chance her arm too much longer now the tracks have dried out.
“Robbie said we wouldn’t want to give him too many more on those conditions,’’ says Latta.
Luckily Father Lenihan’s race at the weekend was the first on the day when the track was still rated a dead 4, with the fire just out of it, but it was quickly upgraded to a good 3.
There’s no doubt, however, the O’Reilly four-year-old is at his most competitive when the ground is slow and that’s why Latta is keen on the Winter Cup as his long term goal.
“He’s improved a lot this time in but he’ll have only one more before we give him a let-up.’’
That’s almost certain to be at Trentham on Wellington Cup day, January 19.
“Trentham rarely gets too hard,’’ says Latta.
More news in Gallops
Money comes for Platinum Attack with the promise of better footing at Trentham
Lisa: It’s a hot field but Platinum Attack’s not out of it - and the $23 odds are very tasty
Lisa: Attack’s been practising right-handed and can run a cheeky race in the Railway
First the draw now the weather threatens to sabotage Platinum Attack’s Telegraph bid
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them

Lisa’s comments
Friday at Awapuni
Race 8: Lincoln Towers
4.53pm
“He needs two more scratchings to make the field and, because it’s the first day back racing at Awapuni and they’re running only 12 horses, that looks doubtful. I decided to run him over 1400 metres as I think leaving him at 1200 wouldn’t be the right thing to do. He has continued to work well and had a really nice gallop on the course proper this week.”

Stephen’s comments
Saturday at Te Rapa
Race 7: Billy Lincoln
3.37pm
“He’s bounced out of his trial (third on the Cambridge synthetic) very well and it’s time to kick him off. I wouldn’t expect him to win at 1200 metres but it will bring him on nicely. Then we’ll step him up to a more suitable 1400 and second-up he can be very competitive. Rihaan Goyaram rides and claims 3kg down to 53.5kg.”